JAMES A. DEROCHE

Cleveland Workers' Comp & Social Security Disability Attorney

SCHEDULE A CONSULTATION

James DeRoche is a senior attorney at Garson Johnson LLC, bringing more than 30 years of legal experience in complex litigation, business law, and workers’ compensation. He joined the firm—then Garson & Associates—in January 2001, and has since become a key figure in delivering strategic, results-driven counsel to clients facing high-stakes legal challenges.

Jim earned his J.D. summa cum laude from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1991, where he was inducted into the Order of the Coif and served as Articles Editor of the Law Review. He received multiple American Jurisprudence Awards for excellence in subjects including Civil Procedure, Evidence, Constitutional Law, Legal Research & Writing, Criminal Procedure, Real Estate Transactions & Finance, Ethics, and Labor Law. He holds a B.A. summa cum laude in Political Science with a minor in Economics from the University of Rochester (1988).

Following law school, Jim began his career at Ulmer & Berne, one of Cleveland’s largest law firms, where he focused on a broad range of litigation matters, including complex business litigation. He later served as General Counsel of a Solon-based company, managing both legal and business operations while maintaining an active litigation practice. Jim also has significant experience representing investors in arbitration disputes against brokerage firms.

Over the course of his career, Jim has successfully tried cases in both state and federal courts, and has argued before the Ohio Court of Appeals. His legal accomplishments have earned him recognition in Super Lawyers (2011–2017), Super Lawyers Rising Stars (2005), and Cleveland Magazine’s Top Attorneys (2014).

Jim is admitted to practice in Ohio, the U.S. District Courts for the Northern District of Ohio and the District of Kansas, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and Federal Circuit. He is a member of the Cleveland Bar Association, Ohio State Bar Association, American Bar Association, and the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association.

With a deep understanding of litigation and business law, Jim provides clients with experienced, practical, and strategic representation.

PRACTICE AREAS

Business Litigation
Class Action Litigation
Contract Litigation
Insurance Litigation
Securities Arbitration
Breach of Contract
Breach of Fiduciary Duty
Partnership Disputes Fraud
Intellectual Property Disputes
Broker/Investment Advisor Misconduct
Construction litigation Insurance Disputes
Bad Faith Claims
Business Torts Litigation

BAR ADMISSIONS

• Ohio, 1991
• U.S. District Court Northern District of Ohio
• U.S. District Court District of Kansas
• U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit
• U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit

EDUCATION

• Case Western Reserve University Law School, Cleveland, Ohio
• J.D. (Summa Cum Laude) – 1991
• Honors: Order of the Coif
• Honors: American Jurisprudence Award
• Law Review: Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Articles Editor, 1990 – 1991
• University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
• B.A. (Summa Cum Laude) – 1988
• Honors: Dean's List
• Major: Political Science
• Minor: Economics

Honors & Awards

• American Jurisprudence Award, Civil Procedure, Evidence, Constitutional Law, Legal Research & Writing, Criminal Procedure, Real Estate Transactions & Finance, Ethics, and Labor Law
• Super Lawyers: 2011 – 2017
• Super Lawyers Rising Stars: 2005
• Cleveland Magazine Top Attorneys 2014

Professional Associations & Memberships

• Public Inventors Arbitration Bar Association
• Cleveland Bar Association
• Ohio State Bar Association
• American Bar Association

PAST EMPLOYMENT

• Seaman Garson LLC 2001-2014
• Stopol, Inc., General Counsel, 1996 – 2000
• Ulmer & Berne, Associate, 1991 – 1996